Historic Bridges
94,376 bridges built before 1951 across the United States still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 94,376 bridges built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINDLEY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| TRIB OF SANDY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 670 |
| DOXIES CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 70 |
| LIT POMME DE TERRE | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,253 |
| WYACONDA RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 15 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| SPRING CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| KCS RR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 16,000 |
| BR OF GREASY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| TRIB OF MISSISSIPP | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| TEASLEY HOLLOW | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| SPRING CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| WEARS CREEK | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 4,339 |
| WEARS CREEK | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 2,695 |
| BR OF JAMES RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 750 |
| TURNER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 233 |
| BR OF FINLEY RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,000 |
| COLBURN BR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 45 |
| TRIB OF SANDY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| CORN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| E FK NIANGUA RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| BR OF JAMES RVR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| HAVERSTICK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 1,600 |
| BR OF POMME TERRE | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 336 |
| BEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 110 |
| BOX BR OF BEAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 110 |
| GREASY CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BR OF BEAVER CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 75 |
| BR OF JAMES RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 73 |
| DRAIN DTCH | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 100 |
| BR OF FIELDS CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| TURNBO CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 150 |
| BR OF POST OAK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 65 |
| LIT PINEY CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 40 |
| E FK POST OAK CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 285 |
| LAMINE RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 50 |
| TRIB OF WILLOW CR | Missouri | Good | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| BR OF GREASY CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 20 |
| DEVILS BR POST OA | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 65 |
| TRIB OF BIG RVR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| TRIB OF BIG RVR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| EATON CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 200 |
| HURRICANE CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 10 |
| CR BR TO N FABIUS | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 30 |
| BUCK CR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| INDIAN CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
| SMALL STREAM | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 25 |
| CATES BR | Missouri | Poor | 1900 | 126 | 250 |
| LIT SHOAL CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 3,000 |
| BRIAR CR | Missouri | Fair | 1900 | 126 | 35 |
Historic Bridges by State
States ranked by number of bridges built before 1951 still in service.
| State | Historic Bridges | Oldest Year | Avg Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 8,191 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 6,062 | 1697 | 99 yrs |
| Kansas | 5,656 | 1870 | 93 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 5,554 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Missouri | 4,522 | 1874 | 96 yrs |
| California | 4,414 | 1860 | 91 yrs |
| New York | 3,831 | 1800 | 96 yrs |
| Ohio | 3,386 | 1828 | 101 yrs |
| Nebraska | 3,270 | 1888 | 91 yrs |
| Illinois | 3,065 | 1863 | 99 yrs |
| Iowa | 3,036 | 1876 | 98 yrs |
| Tennessee | 2,857 | 1841 | 89 yrs |
| Alabama | 2,703 | 1800 | 90 yrs |
| Indiana | 2,682 | 1838 | 98 yrs |
| Virginia | 2,504 | 1820 | 92 yrs |
| Kentucky | 2,241 | 1835 | 89 yrs |
| Arkansas | 1,932 | 1860 | 89 yrs |
| Georgia | 1,832 | 1872 | 88 yrs |
| New Jersey | 1,814 | 1792 | 99 yrs |
| Michigan | 1,528 | 1867 | 94 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 1,481 | 1764 | 107 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 1,333 | 1887 | 92 yrs |
| South Carolina | 1,282 | 1910 | 89 yrs |
| West Virginia | 1,245 | 1817 | 96 yrs |
| North Carolina | 1,203 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| Arizona | 1,189 | 1900 | 90 yrs |
| Washington | 1,188 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| South Dakota | 1,118 | 1900 | 92 yrs |
| Minnesota | 1,035 | 1884 | 94 yrs |
| Vermont | 987 | 1824 | 99 yrs |
| Maryland | 968 | 1809 | 99 yrs |
| Mississippi | 908 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| Connecticut | 860 | 1832 | 96 yrs |
| Colorado | 857 | 1887 | 89 yrs |
| Oregon | 790 | 1899 | 92 yrs |
| New Mexico | 719 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 716 | 1832 | 97 yrs |
| Florida | 707 | 1900 | 87 yrs |
| North Dakota | 685 | 1885 | 91 yrs |
| Montana | 662 | 1881 | 90 yrs |
| Maine | 630 | 1854 | 92 yrs |
| Louisiana | 614 | 1908 | 87 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 463 | 1842 | 95 yrs |
| Hawaii | 386 | 1900 | 95 yrs |
| Idaho | 354 | 1908 | 90 yrs |
| Utah | 217 | 1905 | 88 yrs |
| Wyoming | 191 | 1908 | 88 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 179 | 1810 | 107 yrs |
| Delaware | 122 | 1839 | 99 yrs |
| Nevada | 89 | 1900 | 89 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 81 | 1831 | 94 yrs |
| Alaska | 37 | 1910 | 86 yrs |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.